The Ravens are bringing the same linebacker room back in 2026, and that alone gives this group a cleaner chance to show what it can really do.
Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan, Trenton Simpson, and Jay Higgins are all set to return, but the bigger story is that the environment around them looks a lot better this time. After a rough 2025 in which the defense as a whole struggled week after week, Baltimore’s linebackers are heading into a new season with a different setup and a better shot at stability.
Last year was messy across the board. Smith had a down season by his standards.
Buchanan flashed as a rookie, but coverage issues kept showing up. Simpson never found steady footing and lost his starting job in Week 2.
As a unit, the linebackers were part of a defense that lost its identity and could barely stack stops together.
A lot of that mess was tied to coaching, and that’s where the optimism starts now. The group will operate in a much more favorable system under Jesse Minter, and the expectation is that he can put these players in the right spots far more consistently. Minter’s reputation as a defensive play-caller gives this room a real chance to reset.
There are also signs that the individual pieces are trending the right way.
Smith is entering his age-29 season with motivation coming from the staff, and reports have said he looks to be in better shape. If that holds, Baltimore has a path back toward the All-Pro version of Smith that can control the middle of the field.
Buchanan’s situation has been one of the more encouraging developments. He’s working back from a late-season ACL tear, but the rehab has gone well enough that he keeps clearing tests. Minter sounded upbeat about where he stands as Week 1 approaches.
“Remarkable timeframe and recovery for [Buchanan], and the work that he’s put in,” Minter said. “[We’ll] kind of get a feel for it over the next week…he’s definitely close.”
Then there’s Simpson, who may be the most interesting name in the group. His path over the last couple of seasons has been rocky, but the new system could be exactly what he needs.
He can play off the ball, yet his real edge comes from his versatility. As a pass rusher, he can change a game, and he believes that part of his skill set will be emphasized under Minter.
For a linebacker group that spent last season fighting to find itself, 2026 offers something different: a chance to finally line up the right way and let the talent show.
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Ravens Face One Big Question Up Front Entering Week 1
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Vega Ioane has added a promising note during preseason, but the bigger picture is still about how quickly the group can come together once the games count. For a team with high expectations, the early weeks could test both the lines chemistry and the staffs patience as Baltimore tries to settle on the best combination. [Read more 🡒]